Understanding GPA at Georgetown
At Georgetown University (sometimes called “GU” or just “Georgetown”), your GPA is a number that represents the average value of your final grades over time. It’s important for academic standing, graduation, honors, and even future opportunities like grad school or internships.
Georgetown uses a 4.0 GPA scale, and letter grades are converted into grade points according to a specific scale used across its undergraduate and graduate programs.
Georgetown Grade Scale
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A– | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B– | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C– | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| F | 0.00 |
Only courses taken at Georgetown count toward your official GPA. Transfer credits may apply toward your degree, but they don’t influence your GPA.
How GPA is Calculated
To calculate your GPA at Georgetown:
- Multiply the number of credit hours for each course by the grade points you earned.
- Add those totals together to get your total quality points.
- Divide the total quality points by the total number of GPA-credit hours.
Example:
- You take 4 courses, each 3 credits:
- A (4.0) → 3 × 4.0 = 12.0
- B+ (3.33) → 3 × 3.33 = 9.99
- B (3.0) → 3 × 3.0 = 9.0
- C (2.0) → 3 × 2.0 = 6.0
- Total quality points = 36.99
- Total credits = 12
- GPA = 36.99 ÷ 12 = 3.08
Faculty and Program Differences
School of Foreign Service (SFS) and McDonough School of Business (MSB)
While the GPA calculation remains standard, some schools within Georgetown have unique academic cultures or grading tendencies. For example:
- SFS students often face intensive writing and language requirements.
- MSB courses may include curves or stricter quantitative grading rubrics.
Pass/Fail and Withdrawals
- A “P” (Pass) grade gives credit but does not affect your GPA.
- An “F” under Pass/Fail counts as 0.0 GPA and does impact your GPA.
- “W” (Withdrawals) appear on the transcript but do not affect your GPA.
Honors and Academic Standing
Here’s how your GPA plays into academic distinctions:
| Honor | Required GPA |
|---|---|
| Cum Laude | 3.50 – 3.69 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.70 – 3.89 |
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.90 and above |
You’ll need to maintain a minimum GPA (usually 2.0) to stay in good academic standing. Falling below this could trigger warnings or academic probation.